Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence

The Saikias are a wealthy family, consisting of father, mother, and two unmarried sons, Sanjoy and Sunil. Sanjoy, the elder, refuses to marry, and the family must live with his temper tantrums, alcoholism, and patronizing of prostitutes. They decide to get him married to a woman named Durga from a lower caste and a poor family; they believe that she will be able to live with Sanjoy and his weaknesses. Sanjoy initially refuses to marry Durga, but when his mother threatens to cut him off from her will and estate, he relents and marries her. Thus begins Durga's nightmare with Sanjoy--right from the very first night, which Sanjoy decides to spend with a prostitute named Chameli, who gets pregnant. He subsequently forcibly has sex with Durga and gets her pregnant also, but blames her pregnancy on Sunil. Durga gives birth to a daughter, Deepa, much to Sanjoy's disappointment, as he had expected a son. When Deepa is 12 years old, Sanjoy decides to marry her off to an older male, he refuses to listen to anyone, and severely beats Durga in front of the whole family. One stormy night during a brawl between the brothers, Sunil is killed. Durga feels alone, threatened, and afraid that her daughter might be forced to re-live her horrors, so she and Deepa run away. Sanjoy files a complaint with local police, alleging that Durga has abducted Deepa. Durga and Deepa relocate to Guwahati, where they find support from unexpected quarters and grow and thrive. Then one day, Durga sees Sanjoy at the local drugstore buying some alcohol. Has her biggest nightmare returned to take possession of her and Deepa?